wight

Definition

A living creature, especially a human being.

Etymology

From Middle English wight, wiȝt, from Old English wiht (“thing, creature”), from Proto-West Germanic *wihti, from Proto-Germanic *wihtiz (“thing, creature”, literally “being”), from Proto-Indo-European *wekti- (“cause, sake, thing”), from *wekʷ- (“to say, tell”). Cognate with Scots wicht (“creature, being, human”), Dutch wicht (“child, baby, girl”), German Low German Wicht (“girl; wight”), German Wicht (“wretch, wight, little creature, scoundrel”), Danish vætte (“underground creature, gnome”), Norwegian Bokmål vette (“underground creature, gnome”), Swedish vätte (“underground creature, gnome”), Icelandic vættur (“imp, elf”). Doublet of whit.

Example Sentences

• "O bace gongarian wight, wilt thou the ſpicket willd?"
• "Oh ſay me true if thou wert mortal wight And why from us ſo quickly thou didſt take thy flight."
• "But woe betide the wandering wight, / That treads its circle in the night."